Bernama:
Interesting question: do we really need the native speakers to teach language subjects like English and Arabic to get better results? What about those Teaching English as Second Language (TESL) graduates who might or might not be English native speakers? Can they deliver same level or even better results compared to native speakers?
A total of 3,513 candidates or 60.4 per cent passed in all 10 subjects with at least the Maqbul (Pass) in the Sijil Tinggi Agama Malaysia (STAM) last year, a 7.1 per cent decrease compared to the previous year.On efforts to improve the STAM results, Education Ministry will hire Arabic native-speakers (taken in small groups in stages in the next few years) from West Asia to teach Arabic subjects. This approach was similar to what the ministry has done to improve the command of English, according to the same news report.
Education director-general Datuk Dr Khair Mohamad Yusof said 369 candidates secured the Mumtaz (Excellent) in the examination last year, fell by 0.3 per cent from the previous year.
He said the number of candidates who obtained the Jayyid Jiddan grade (Very Good), Jayyid (Good) and Maqbul (Pass) had also declined compared to the previous year.
While the percentage drop for the Mumtaz was the lowest, the Jayyid Jidan posted the largest percentage dip at 3 per cent (173 candidates), the Jayyid decreased by 2.5 per cent (149 candidates) and the Maqbul reduced by 1.3 per cent (76 candidates), he said when announcing the 2013 STAM results in PUtrajaya, Thursday.
Khair said overall, the 2013 STAM achievement declined by 0.12 points from National Average Grade (GPN) of 3.08 points in 2012 to 3.20 points in 2013.
Interesting question: do we really need the native speakers to teach language subjects like English and Arabic to get better results? What about those Teaching English as Second Language (TESL) graduates who might or might not be English native speakers? Can they deliver same level or even better results compared to native speakers?